What's New in Medicaid
And Other Health Care Issues

Max Baucus' proposed health care plan offers more problems than solutions, says Devon Herrick. Read his Health Alert.

Employers who provide consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs) lower their costs and employees are more likely to get preventative care, according to a new report.  Read Greg Scandlen's Health Alert.

The newly passed Mental Health Parity bill is the wrong way to go, says John Goodman.  Read his latest Health Alert.

Update on State Reforms

Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal has unveiled a Medicaid overhaul plan that is designed to cut costs and improve health outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries.  Read more.

Maryland is considering steep hikes in payroll, alcohol, and tobacco taxes as well as additional taxes on business to fund its $15.5 billion plan to cover the uninsured.  Read more.

Oklahoma state legislative health task force finalized its recommendations for health reform that include expanding public-private partnerships and lower medical malpractice insurance for physicians.  Read more.

Rhode Island physicians are reacting to Governor Carcieri's controversial plan to negotiate with Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services for a waiver that they say will undoubtedly decrease physician reimbursement rates.  Read more.

Utah is promoting more consumer-friendly policies in its move the increased the number of insured.  The Utah State Legislature's Health Care Reform Task Force released its blueprint for bills that should be drafted and passed in its upcoming session.  Read more.

A new study from the Washington Policy Center examines health care reforms in six states.  Read here.   Also, read their latest report on Health Savings Accounts.

Other News: 

• CMS Issues Improper Payment Rates for Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP
• Commonwealth Foundation: Medicaid Reform for the Poor and the Poor Taxpayer
• Grace Marie Turner: Improving the Individual Health Insurance Market
• Capped Payments for Those Who Qualify for Both Medicare and Medicaid Could Reduce Costs, study says
• Medicare, Medicaid Deficits Loom Over Health Priorities
• Economists Critique Obama's Health Insurance Reform Plan
• How (Not) To Do Incremental Health Reform
• Arkansas: Little Rock Couple Sentenced in Medicaid Fund Fraud
• Missouri: Joplin Dentist Faces Medicaid Fraud Charges
• Oklahoma: Number of State's Long-Term Care Monitors Failing
• New York: Nurse, Former Nursing Home Worker Arrested for Medicaid Fraud
• Texas: Computer Crash Jeopardizes Medicaid Fraud Prosecutions in Texas

Be Prepared

Order a copy of the NCPA Handbook on State Health Care Reform here.

Sign up for John Goodman's health policy blog at:  http://www.john-goodman-blog.com

Take Advantage of the NCPA's Medicaid Service Center 

• The NCPA's Medicaid Service Center canhelp state-based think tanks with commentaries, policy papers and speakers for briefings.Those interested in exploring further should contact Devon Herrick at (972) 308-6470.

Links of Interest

• Center for Long-Term Care Reform, Inc.
• Center for Health Transformation
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• Consumers for Health Care Choices
• MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health)
• National Association of State Medicaid Directors

What the Other Side Says

• Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
• Families USA - Medicaid and Children's Health
• The Commonwealth Fund
• The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured